Ammunition hoisting and loading apparatus for ordnance



A. T. DAWSON AND J. HORN. AMMUNITION HOiST-ING AND LOADING APPARATUSYfOR URDNANCE'.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, 19.20.

.Patented Jan. 3,1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

A'. T. DAWSON AND 1. HOHNE. AMMUN-ITIONHOISTINGAND LODING APPARATUS .FOR ORDNANCE.

y Patented Jan. 3,1922.

APPLICATION' FILED SEPT- 4, |920..

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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Bmgumasvon DAWSON, or wns'rMrNsrnn, LoNDoN, AND maivrns HORNE, on

Bannow-rN-rnnNnss, ENGLAND, AssreNons ro VICKENS Lrurnn: or WEST- MINSTER, LONDON, ENGLAND.

AMMUNITION noIs'rNe AND LOADING APDARATUS :son ORDNANCE.

Lacasse.

To" all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, Sir ARTHUR TRnvoR DawsoN, Bart., and JAMES Homin, bothsuby cation in Great Britain, No.V 21,083, dated Aug.V 27, 1919, a specification.

4 rEllis-invention relates to ammunition hoisting andV loading apparatus for ordnance.

According to the invention any of the con tainers, cages or-the like used in connection with the supplying of powder charges to the and of which the followino' is i Y :n

y gun is provided with a rotary or rockingr Y powder charge receptacle which 1s so co1;-

structed and arranged in relation to the opening or openings in the container or cage as to be itself capable of closing the said opening'or openings in a flash-proof manner. In one arrangement the said receptacle may be used in conjunction with a container attached to the rotary, trunk through which ammunition is carrie'd'by a -lifting cage to the gun, this container projecting into the magazine and being formed with openings through which the powder charges enter and leave vthe receptacle. The latter movesvin contact with curved surfaces in the container and the construction is such that in all its po- Y sitions it prevents a flash in the trunk from passing through the container to the magazine; the construction of the said receptacle is also such that in all its positions (taken in conjunction with the lifting cage) the charge contained in the receptacle is flash-proof in relation to the inside of the trunk and in all its positions except that in which it receives the powder charges, the charge is hash-proof in relation to the magazine.

lVhen the receptacle is used in conjunction with a liftingV cage, it may be of the same' general construction as that described with reference to the container and serves when moved into a suitable position to cut off communication between the trunk and the powder charges carried by the receptacle.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ln order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readilyfcarried into effect the same will be more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :4

Figure 1 isa sectional elevation vof the aforesaid container and a lifting cageleach provided with a powder charge receptacle (tionstructed inaccordance with this invenion, j

Figure 2 is a Section taken approximately on the line 2, 2 of Figure `1, and

Figure 3` is a sectional elevation showing the container, the lifting cage and a gun loading cage, all provided with the said powder charge receptacles and also showing interlocking safety ldevices hereinafter vreferred to. Y L

A is the rotary trunk, B is the container which isattached to the trunk A andv projects into the magazine, B is the powder.

charge receptacle of this container, C` is the lifting cage, C is the powder charge receptacle of this cage, D (Figure 3) is the gun loading cage and D is the powder charge receptacle of this cage. v

in the example shown the powder charge receptacle B" is of substantially U shape in cross-section and has trunnions b, b mounted in the end walls Z2', ZJ of the .container B,'so as to enable the receptacle to swing about a longitudinal airis.y The said receptacle is provided with longitudinal webs B2, B2 having curved surfaces and the outer ends'of the limbs B3, B3 also have curved surfaces, these various curved surfaces moving in contact with the cylindrical inner surface of the container. ceiving opening B4 through which the powder charges are inserted into the receptacle B when` the latter occupies the receiving position with its'center-line 1 at la and is also formed at a lower level than, and substantially opposite, thereceiving opening with a discharging opening B5 through which. the

Vpowder charges roll fromv the receptacle when the latter is displaced into the discharging position with its centre line l at 1b. The receptacle is displaced into its various positions by a handle B". It will beY 0bserved that a receptacle constructed in the manner above described provides an arrangement for transferring the powder charges The latter is formed with a r'e- Patented Jan. 3, 19722. Application filed september 4.L 1920. serial 116,408,322.

from the magazine to the lifting cage in such a manner that the receptacle in all its positions, renders it impossible for a flash in the trunk to enter the magazine past the receptacle; Moreover in the receiving position of the receptacle and in the intermediate or waiting position shown by full lines in Figure 1, the powder charges therein are flashproof in relation to the inside of the trunk; a similar effect is obtained when the receptacle is in the discharging position because at such times the lifting cage C is in its lowermost position closing the discharging opening B5 of the container.

The receptacle C of the lifting cage C and the receptacle D ofthe gun loadingV cage D (Figure 3) are constructed in a similar manner to the receptacle B above del scribed except that the receptacle C has only one web C2; the receptacle C prevents a'lash in the trunk from reaching'v the receiving opening C* past the said receptacle when the latter occupies the receiving and discharging positions in which the centre line 3 is at 3a and 3b respectively (see Figure l) and also ensures that the` powder charges in the receptacle shall be flashproof in relation to the trunk when this receptacle occupies the position shown by full lines in Figure l. Y

The rotary receptacle D of they gun loading cage D serves to completely close the opening in the cage through which the charges enter except when the charges are being received' from the lifting cage C. The receptacle D is arranged above the projectile container or compartment of the cage as is described in the specification of copending application, Serial No. 408,326, filed September 4, 1920. l

YMeans are provided whereby the receptacle B of the container BV is prevented from being placed in the discharging position until the lifting cage receptacle C is in the receiving position these means including a plate Ba (Figure 3) keyed to the trunnion in of the receptacle B', a bell crank lever XB? (pivoted on the trunk structure) to which a locking bolt Bs is attached and a spring Bg which normally keeps th-e ybolt B8 in the wayof'the plate B6`(as shown by chain lines) when the receptacle B is in its receiving position. When the cage C vdescends a tappet lever C5 keyed to the trunnion pin of the cage receptacle C is moved as a resultof the rotation of the receptacle C and operates the bell crank lever B7 to I withdraw the bolt B8 and the receptacle B can then be moved to the discharging position.

Means arey provided for automatically moving the receptacle C of the lifting cage to the receivingk position, these means including a pinion C's (Figure 3) (keyed to the trunnion pin of the receptacle C) which meshes with a sector C' pivoted Von the cage frame and. provided with a roller C".

centering spring CB is provided to replace n and retain the receptacle Cin its normal position. A hinged cam A pivoted on the trunk structure and locked automatically by a hand operated bolt A2 is provided. When the cage C descends the roller C9 engages with this cam to move sector C7 and thereby place the'receptacle C in the receiving po, sition.V The retaining bolt A2 is then Withdrawn thus allowing' the receptacle C to move to its normal position under the action of the spring C8. The tappet lever'C5 disengages the bell crank lever B7 and this allows the bolt B8 to lock the plate B"VV when the receptacle B is turned to receive furl ther charges. The cam. A', displaced by the spring CS, when thereceptacle C is in its` normal position, automatically returns tol its operative position underthe action of a spring A3 and is locked by the bolt A? position before the gun loading .cage D is down, the receptacle C remains in its normal position until the gun loading cage descends. When the cam A4 is then moved through the action of a stopV E on the cage D and the bell crank lever A9, it engages the roller C9 and places the receptacle C to its discharging position. Similar means are employed to retain the receptacle D ofthe gun'loading cage D in its normal position if the lifting cage C is not inthe top posi-A tion and lto place the receptacle D in the receiving positionivhen the lifting cage reaches its top, position. A cam A5 is pivoted to the trunk and is moved to its operative position by the liftingcage Ccoming against a bell crank lever A, This cam when displaced to operative position engages a roller-D2 on a sector D3 4on the gun loading cage D, thereby rotating a pinion Dkeyed on the trunnionof the gun loading cagereceptacle D. Springs A7 and *A8 are provide-d for normally holding the cams A4l and;A5 in their inoperative positions. When the gun loading cage D is charged, f

loading cage D is raised, the receptacles of both cages are movedautomatically by the: springs C8 and A10 respectively. 1

Y Assume the gun loading cage D is raised, the roller D2 moves up the face of .the relatively stationary cam vA5 (operated on by the spring A10) until its receptacle is stopped in the normal position. The action 'if the lifting cage C'is loweredor the -gun the lifting cage C is lowered before the gun loading cage D is raised,the actions of the' cam A5 and the lever A6 aie'similar to those above described.

l/Vhat we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1.1n ammunition supply apparatus for ordnance, the combination with powder charge container having an opening for the entry of powder charges and also having an inner cylindrical surface, and a powder charge receptacle movable within said container, with parts ofY said receptacle in contact with said inner cylindrical surface whereby said receptacle, in moving from the position in which it receives the powder charges through said opening, itself closes this (pening in a flash-proof manner.

2. n ammunition supply apparatus for ordnance, the combination with a powder charge container having an opening for the entry of powder charges and also having an inner cylindrical surface, and a powder charge receptacle movable within said container about a longitudinal axis, with parts of said receptacle in contact with said iniiei` cylindrical surface whe eey said receptacle, in moving about said axis from the position in which it receives thc powder charges through said opening, itself closes this opening in a flash-proof manner.

3. ln ammunition supply apparatus for ordnance, the combination with a powder charge container having a lateral opening for the entry of powder charges and also having an inner cylindrical surface, and a powder charge receptacle movable wit-hin said container about a longitudinal axis, with parts of said receptacle in contact with said inner cylindrical surface whereby said receptacle, in moving about said axis from the position in which itreceives the powder charges through said opening, itself closes this opening in flaslrproof manner.

a. ln ammunition supply apparatus for ordnance, the combination with a powder chaigercontainer having a` lateral opening for the entry of powder charges, of a powder charge receptacle which has limbs giving it a U-shaped cross section and which is mounted in said container to turn about a longitudinal axis, the limbs of said receptacle moving in contact with the inner cylindrical surface of said container.

5. 1n ammunition hoisting` apparatus for ordnance, the combination with the ammunition trunk and the lifting cage to which powder charges pass through an opening in said trunk, of a powder charge container khaving ay lateralv receiving opening and :i

lateral discharging opening and also having aninner cylindrical surface, means for attaching said container to the trunl; 'with the discharging opening "the container opposite the opening in the trunk and a powder charge receptacle whichhas limbs giving it a lil-shaped cross section and which is mounted in said containerto turn about a longitudinal axis, the limbs of said receptacle moi7- ing in contact with the inner cylindrical surf face of said container.

'6. In ammunition hoisting apparatus for ordnance, the combination with a powder charge lifting ca oe having` a lateral opening for the entry oiipowder charges andy also i having an inner cylindrical surface, of a powder charge receptacle which has Alimbs giving it a Ll-shaped cross section and which is mounted in said cage to turn about a lo n gitudinal axis, the limbs of-said receptacle moving in contact with the inner cylindrical surface of said cage.

7. ln ammunition hoisting apparatus for ordnance, the combination with a powder charge lifting cage having a lateral opening for the entry of powder charges and a lateral opening for the discharge of the powder charges and also having an inner cylindrical surface, of a powder charge receptacle which has limbs giving it a U-shaped cross section which is mounted in said cage to turn about a longitudinal axis, the limbs of said receptacle moving in contact with the inner cylin drical surface of said cage.

8. ln ammunition hoisting apparatus for ordnance, the combination with a gun loading vcage for lifting shells and powder charges to the gun, said cage having a lateral opening for the entry of the powder charges -ioo and also having an inner cylindrical surface, y

of a powder charge receptacle which hasv limbs giving it a U-sliaped cross section which is mounted in said cage to turn about a longitudinal axis, the limbs of said receptacle moving in contact with the inner cylindrical surface of said cage.

9. ln ammunition hoisting apparatus for.

ordnance the combination of the elements claimed in claim 5, with a safety device for preventing the receptacle of the container 'from being moved to its discharging position unless the receptacle of the lifting cage is in the correct receiving position.

10. ln ammunition hoisting apparatus forV ordnance the combination of the elementsy claimed in claim 6, with a safety device for preventing the receptacle of the container from being moved to its discharging position unless the receptacle of the lifting cage is in the correct receiving position.

ll. In ammunition hoisting apparatus for ordnance, the combination of the elements claimed in claim 5, with a safety device for preventing the receptacles of the container unless the receptacle of the lifting cageis in the correctk receiving position and a safety device for preventing the latter receptacle from being movedkto its discharging position uniess the receptacle of the gun loading cage is in the correct receiving position.

13. .Inamniuntion hoisting apparatus for ordnance, the combination of thev elements claimed in claim 8 with a safety device for preventing the vreceptacle of the container from being moved to its discharging positionY unless the receptacle of the lifting cage `is in the correct receiving position` and a safety device for preventiiigthe latter receptacle from being moved to its discharging position unless the receptacle of the gun loading cage is in the correct receiving position. V In testimony whereof ive aifiix our signatures.

ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON. JAMES HORNE.' 

